Blues sign record-breaking McLellan

Linfield add to attack by signing HW Welders striker

David Healy has moved to strengthen his side's attacking ranks with the addition of record-breaking HW Welders striker Michael McLellan on an 18-month contract.

The 23-year-old, who started his youth career at Windsor Park, has netted 74 goals for the Welders in the past 18 months and his past 50 games, shattering a number of goalscoring records in the process.

McLellan has now re-joined his boyhood club, following spells at Preston North End, Portadown and Ballymena United before joining Welders in 2014.

The striker is Linfield's fourth addition in this January transfer window, following the arrivals of Ross Gaynor, Ruairi Croskery and Stephen Fallon (loan), and will provide striking competition for the Blues along with Andy Waterworth, Guy Bates, Paul Smyth and Croskery, who has signed until the end of the season after returning home from Manchester United.

"He will certainly add to our striking options for the remainder of this season and next season and he has been allocated the number 10 shirt in our squad," said a delighted Healy.

"I want to thank Gary Smyth and the Welders for their co-operation with this signing. They are a smashing club and they are losing a great player but they said they wouldn't stand in his way of this move so they deserve a lot of credit."